Every Major Airline and Aircraft Type: The Complete Spotters' Reference

If you've ever looked up and wondered exactly which airline and aircraft is flying over you, this is the reference you need. Below is a comprehensive guide to the world's major airlines, the aircraft types they fly, and the key visual differences between them — so whether you're using an app or just your eyes, you'll know what you're looking at.

Major Airlines and Their Fleets

British Airways

IATA Code: BA | ICAO: BAW

One of the world's most recognisable carriers, British Airways operates a large and varied fleet:

Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321neo — short and medium-haul workhorses flying European and domestic routes
Airbus A380 — the double-decker superjumbo, deployed on high-demand long-haul routes to New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, and more
Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER — the backbone of BA's long-haul network
Boeing 787-8, 787-9 Dreamliner — quieter, more fuel-efficient widebody jets on routes to the Americas and Asia

British Airways aircraft are finished in the iconic Chatham Dockyard tailfin livery — a Union Flag design introduced in the 1990s and still used today.

easyJet

IATA Code: U2 | ICAO: EZY

Europe's leading low-cost carrier flies an all-Airbus narrowbody fleet:

Airbus A319 — the smallest in the family, seating around 156 passengers
Airbus A320 — the most common variant, seating around 180 passengers
Airbus A320neo — the newer-engine variant with distinctive CFM LEAP or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines and curved wingtip "sharklets"
Airbus A321neo — the stretched variant, used on busier routes

easyJet's orange-and-white livery makes them one of the easiest airlines to spot at any European airport.

Ryanair

IATA Code: FR | ICAO: RYR

Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet:

Boeing 737-800 — the backbone of the fleet, seating up to 189 passengers in high-density configuration
Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 — the high-capacity next-generation variant with split scimitar winglets and LEAP-1B engines

Ryanair's blue-and-gold livery with the bold harp logo is instantly recognisable across European skies.

Wizz Air

IATA Code: W6 | ICAO: WZZ

The fast-growing Central and Eastern European LCC flies exclusively Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A320neo
Airbus A321neo
Airbus A321XLR — the extra long-range narrowbody, allowing transatlantic and ultra-long routes on a single-aisle jet

Wizz Air's distinctive magenta and grey livery with the W logo is hard to miss.

TUI Airways (formerly Thomson)

IATA Code: BY | ICAO: TOM

TUI is the UK's largest charter carrier:

Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737 MAX 8
Boeing 787-8, 787-9 Dreamliner — for long-haul holiday routes

The red TUI logo on a white fuselage with a red smile tailfin is iconic.

Virgin Atlantic

IATA Code: VS | ICAO: VIR

Flying long-haul from the UK to North America, the Caribbean, and beyond:

Airbus A330-200, A330-300 — used on medium long-haul routes
Airbus A350-1000 — Virgin's flagship widebody, one of the most technologically advanced airliners in service
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — a core part of the long-haul fleet

Virgin's distinctive red livery with gold lettering and the "Flying Lady" nose art makes them one of aviation's most recognisable brands.

Jet2

IATA Code: LS | ICAO: EXS

The UK's popular holiday carrier:

Boeing 737-800
Airbus A321neo — increasingly becoming the dominant type in the fleet

Jet2's blue, yellow, and red livery is common over UK skies, especially in summer.

Lufthansa

IATA Code: LH | ICAO: DLH

Germany's flag carrier operates one of Europe's largest and most diverse fleets:

Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo — short/medium haul
Airbus A340-300, A340-600 — four-engine long-haul aircraft (being phased out)
Airbus A380 — operated on select high-demand routes
Airbus A350-900 — the newer long-haul flagship
Boeing 747-400, 747-8 — the iconic "Queen of the Skies", Lufthansa is one of the last major users of the 747-8
Boeing 787-9

Lufthansa's blue-and-yellow crane livery is understated but elegant.

Air France

IATA Code: AF | ICAO: AFR

France's flag carrier operates a wide range of Airbus and Boeing types:

Airbus A318, A319, A320, A320neo, A321
Airbus A330-200
Airbus A350-900
Boeing 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-9

Air France's elegant blue, white, and red livery reflects the French tricolour.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

IATA Code: KL | ICAO: KLM

The world's oldest airline still operating under its original name:

Airbus A330-200, A330-300, A330-900neo
Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-900
Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-9, 787-10

KLM's light blue livery with the crown logo is one of aviation's most classic liveries.

Emirates

IATA Code: EK | ICAO: UAE

One of the world's largest airlines by international passengers:

Airbus A380 — Emirates is the world's largest operator of the A380, with over 100 in the fleet
Boeing 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-300ER — the absolute backbone of the fleet; Emirates is also the world's largest 777 operator
Boeing 777X — next-generation aircraft on order

Emirates' white, grey, and gold livery with the Arabic calligraphy tailfin is unmistakable.

Qatar Airways

IATA Code: QR | ICAO: QTR

Consistently voted the world's best airline:

Airbus A319, A320, A321
Airbus A330-200, A330-300
Airbus A350-900, A350-1000 — Qatar is the launch customer and largest operator of the A350
Airbus A380
Boeing 777-200LR, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9

Qatar's deep burgundy and silver livery with the oryx logo is sophisticated and distinctive.

Etihad Airways

IATA Code: EY | ICAO: ETD

Abu Dhabi's flag carrier:

Airbus A320, A320neo, A321neo
Airbus A321XLR (on order)
Airbus A380
Boeing 777-200LR, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-9, 787-10

Etihad's grey, gold, and chocolate brown livery is unique in the industry.

Turkish Airlines

IATA Code: TK | ICAO: THY

One of the world's largest networks, flying to more countries than any other airline:

Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo
Airbus A330-200, A330-300
Boeing 737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9
Boeing 777-300ER
Boeing 787-9

Turkish Airlines' red and white livery with the red tulip tailfin is distinctive.

Delta Air Lines

IATA Code: DL | ICAO: DAL

One of America's Big Three carriers:

Airbus A220-100, A220-300 — Delta is the launch customer and primary US operator
Airbus A319, A320, A321
Airbus A330-200, A330-300, A330-900neo
Airbus A350-900
Boeing 717 — one of the few remaining 717 operators
Boeing 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER
Boeing 757-200, 757-300
Boeing 767-300, 767-300ER, 767-400ER
Boeing 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-200ER

Delta's navy and red livery is clean and professional.

American Airlines

IATA Code: AA | ICAO: AAL

The world's largest airline by fleet size:

Airbus A319, A320, A321
Airbus A321XLR (on order)
Boeing 737-800, 737 MAX 8
Boeing 757-200
Boeing 767-300ER
Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9
Embraer E175 — regional jet operated by regional partners

American's silver fuselage with the eagle and flag stripe is instantly recognisable.

United Airlines

IATA Code: UA | ICAO: UAL

One of America's Big Three:

Airbus A319, A320, A321
Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9, 737 MAX 10
Boeing 757-200, 757-300
Boeing 767-300ER, 767-400ER
Boeing 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 787-10

United's blue, gold, and grey livery features the globe logo.

Southwest Airlines

IATA Code: WN | ICAO: SWA

America's largest domestic carrier flies only one type:

Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8 — an all-737 fleet

Southwest's colourful heart livery comes in various schemes, making it one of the most recognisable airlines in US skies.

Singapore Airlines

IATA Code: SQ | ICAO: SIA

Consistently ranked among the world's best airlines:

Airbus A350-900, A350-900ULR — the ultra-long-range version flies the world's longest flights (Singapore to New York, ~19 hours)
Airbus A380 — still a major user of the superjumbo
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 777-200, 777-300, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-10

Singapore Airlines' Singapore Girl livery in tropical blue and gold is one of aviation's most iconic designs.

Cathay Pacific

IATA Code: CX | ICAO: CPA

Hong Kong's flag carrier:

Airbus A320, A321neo
Airbus A330-300
Airbus A350-900, A350-1000
Boeing 777-300, 777-300ER
Boeing 747-400F (freighter)

Cathay's green brushwing livery is elegant and distinctive.

Japan Airlines (JAL)

IATA Code: JL | ICAO: JAL

Airbus A350-900
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 767-300, 767-300ER
Boeing 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9

JAL's red crane logo on a white tail is classic and instantly recognisable.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

IATA Code: NH | ICAO: ANA

Japan's other major carrier:

Airbus A320neo, A321neo
Airbus A380 ("Flying Honu" turtle livery)
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 767-300, 767-300ER
Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 787-10 — ANA is the world's largest 787 operator

ANA's blue and grey livery is quietly sophisticated.

Air Canada

IATA Code: AC | ICAO: ACA

Canada's flag carrier:

Airbus A220-300
Airbus A319, A320, A321
Airbus A330-300
Boeing 737 MAX 8
Boeing 767-300ER
Boeing 777-200LR, 777-300ER
Boeing 787-8, 787-9

Air Canada's black and red maple leaf livery is unmistakable.

Qantas

IATA Code: QF | ICAO: QFA

Australia's flag carrier and one of the oldest airlines in the world:

Airbus A220-300 (on order)
Airbus A380
Boeing 737-800
Boeing 787-9

Qantas' red kangaroo on white is one of the world's most iconic airline liveries. The Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR is on order for ultra-long non-stop flights from Sydney to London.

Commercial Aircraft Types: Visual Reference

Narrowbody Jets (Single Aisle)

Airbus A220 (formerly Bombardier CSeries)

A relatively new aircraft designed by Bombardier and now developed by Airbus. Recognisable by its very large engines relative to the fuselage, distinctive curved wingtips, and wide cabin for a narrowbody. Operated by Swiss, Air France, Delta, Air Canada, and others. Variants: A220-100 (smaller) and A220-300 (stretched).

Airbus A318

The smallest member of the A320 family — rarely seen today and being phased out. Seating around 107 passengers.

Airbus A319

Slightly shorter than the A320, seating around 124–156 passengers. Still common in European and US fleets, though the A319neo is replacing older ceo variants.

Airbus A320 / A320neo

The world's most popular commercial aircraft family. The standard A320 seats 150–180 passengers. The A320neo (New Engine Option) has new LEAP or PW1100G engines and distinctive curved "sharklet" wingtips. Operated by almost every major airline in the world.

Airbus A321 / A321neo / A321XLR

The stretched variant of the A320 family. The A321neo is the dominant type on medium-haul routes. The A321XLR is a game-changer — a single-aisle jet with range to fly transatlantic routes like London to New York without widebody aircraft.

Boeing 737-700

The shorter variant in the modern 737 family. Common with Southwest Airlines and WestJet.

Boeing 737-800

The most popular 737 variant ever built. Seating around 162–189 passengers, found everywhere. Split scimitar winglets are common on 737-800s.

Boeing 737-900 / 737-900ER

The stretched 737, operated by United, Delta, KLM, and others.

Boeing 737 MAX 7

The smallest MAX variant, direct replacement for the 737-700.

Boeing 737 MAX 8

The most common MAX variant. Distinguishable from the classic 737-800 by its LEAP-1B engines (which hang lower and have a distinctive flat bottom on the nacelle) and split scimitar winglets.

Boeing 737 MAX 9

Stretched MAX variant operated by United, Alaska, and others.

Boeing 737 MAX 10

The longest 737 ever built, still entering service.

Boeing 757-200

An iconic narrowbody that bridges single and widebody capabilities. Long, sleek, and powerful — still popular on transatlantic routes where its range and performance on short runways is valued.

Boeing 757-300

The stretched 757, operated by Condor and a handful of other carriers.

Embraer E-Jet family (E170, E175, E190, E195)

Brazilian regional jets found everywhere as feeders to main hubs. The E175 is the most common in North American regional aviation.

Embraer E2 family (E190-E2, E195-E2)

The next-generation E-Jet with new engines and aerodynamics. Operated by Wideroe, Helvetic, KLM Cityhopper, and others.

Widebody Jets (Twin Aisle)

Airbus A300

One of the first widebody jets, now almost entirely retired from passenger service. The A300-600F freighter is still used by FedEx and UPS.

Airbus A310

The smaller sister of the A300. Rare in passenger service but still used as freighters and VIP transports.

Airbus A330-200

A twin-engine widebody, shorter variant with extra range. Common with Air France, Korean Air, Finnair, and many others.

Airbus A330-300

The longer A330 variant, very common on medium and long-haul routes. Standard configuration is around 300 passengers.

Airbus A330-800neo

The smaller A330neo variant — rarely ordered.

Airbus A330-900neo

The stretched A330neo, with new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. Increasingly common with KLM, Air Transat, TAP Air Portugal, and others. Recognisable by the distinctive large engine nacelles and curved wingtips.

Airbus A340-200 / A340-300

Four-engine widebodies from the 1990s, now rapidly being retired. Recognisable by four CFM56 engines and a distinctive fuselage kink where the main gear is located.

Airbus A340-500 / A340-600

The ultra-long-range and stretched variants — rare and mostly retired. A handful remain in service with Mahan Air.

Airbus A350-900

Airbus's most advanced twin-engine widebody. Recognisable by carbon fibre fuselage with a distinctively curved nose and very large composite wings. The window surrounds have a characteristic curved triangular shape. Operated by Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, British Airways, Lufthansa, and many others.

Airbus A350-1000

The stretched A350, operated by Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and others. Slightly longer than the -900 with more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines.

Airbus A380

The world's largest commercial passenger aircraft — a double-decker superjumbo seating up to 853 passengers (or typically 500–600 in standard configurations). Unmistakable with its enormous double-deck fuselage, four engines, and massive wingspan. Major operators: Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Air France, Thai Airways.

Boeing 767-200 / 767-300 / 767-300ER

A workhorse widebody from the 1980s. Still widely used — particularly the 767-300ER on North Atlantic routes. Distinctive by its circular fuselage cross-section and relatively narrow widebody profile. Delta, United, American, FedEx, and UPS are major operators.

Boeing 767-400ER

The stretched 767 variant, less common.

Boeing 777-200 / 777-200ER / 777-200LR

The original 777 variants. Still common, particularly the 777-200ER on long-haul routes. Recognisable by its very large GE90 engines — the largest turbofan engines ever built on the -200LR and -300ER.

Boeing 777-300 / 777-300ER

The stretched 777. The 777-300ER is the workhorse of long-haul aviation — operated by Emirates, Qatar, Cathay, Singapore, Air France, KLM, Turkish, and dozens more.

Boeing 777X (777-8, 777-9)

The next-generation 777 with folding wingtips (a first for commercial aviation), new GE9X engines, and a composite wing. Just entering service with Emirates and Lufthansa.

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

The original Dreamliner, seating around 242 passengers. Operated by JAL, ANA, United, Air Canada, and others. Recognisable by its distinctive wave-shaped engine nacelle intake, very large composite wings with raked tips, and "chevron" sawtooth engine exhausts.

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The most popular Dreamliner variant, stretched to seat around 296 passengers. Common across global long-haul networks.

Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner

The longest 787, trading range for capacity. Common with Singapore Airlines, ANA, United, and others.

Turboprop Aircraft

ATR 42 / ATR 72

Regional turboprops common in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Built by a Franco-Italian consortium. High-wing design with two turboprop engines. The ATR 72 (the larger variant) seats up to 78 passengers.

Dash 8 / De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400

A popular turboprop for shorter regional routes. High-wing, twin turboprop. Known for the distinctive "Q" (Quiet) designation meaning active noise and vibration cancellation. Common with Flybe (now defunct), Wideroe, Air Canada Express, and others.

Saab 340 / Saab 2000

Swedish regional turboprops, still found in Scandinavian and Australian regional aviation.

Business Jets and VIP Aircraft

Bombardier Global family (Global 5500, 6500, 7500)

Ultra-long-range business jets. The Global 7500 is the world's longest-range business jet, capable of flying London to Sydney non-stop.

Bombardier Challenger 300, 350, 604, 650

Mid-size and super-mid-size business jets.

Bombardier Learjet family (Learjet 45, 75)

Light business jets. Production ended in 2021.

Gulfstream G500, G600, G650, G700, G800

American ultra-long-range business jets. The Gulfstream G700 and G800 compete directly with the Bombardier Global 7500 for the top end of the market.

Cessna Citation family

A large family of light to midsize business jets. The Cessna Citation X was once the fastest civilian aircraft in the world.

Dassault Falcon family (Falcon 2000, 7X, 8X, 10X)

French business jets known for their trijet configurations and long range.

Embraer Phenom 100, 300

Light and entry-level business jets.

Embraer Legacy / Praetor

Mid-size and super-midsize business jets.

Freighter Aircraft

Boeing 747-400F / 747-8F

The 747 freighter is the backbone of air cargo. The upper deck hump makes it unmistakable. Major operators: UPS, FedEx, Cargolux, Korean Air Cargo, Atlas Air.

Boeing 777F

A long-range freighter version of the 777-300ER. Common with FedEx, Emirates SkyCargo, and Korean Air Cargo.

Airbus A330-200F

The freighter version of the A330-200. Less common than the 777F.

Airbus A330-743L Beluga XL

Not a standard freighter — this is Airbus's own outsized cargo transporter used to move aircraft sections between European factories. One of the most distinctive aircraft shapes in existence.

Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (747 LCF / Dreamlifter)

Boeing's equivalent to the Beluga — used to transport 787 sections. The fuselage is massively enlarged above the original 747 fuselage line, giving it an almost surreal silhouette.

Airline Alliances

Star Alliance

United Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, ANA, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, Swiss, Austrian, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Brussels Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Copa Airlines, Avianca, Aegean Airlines, Air China, Air India, Asiana Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, LOT Polish Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines

Oneworld

British Airways, American Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc, Alaska Airlines, SriLankan Airlines

SkyTeam

Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, China Southern, China Eastern, Aeromexico, Alitalia/ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, Vietnam Airlines, TAROM, Saudia, Middle East Airlines, Czech Airlines, XiamenAir, Garuda Indonesia

How to Identify What's Flying Over You

The easiest way to instantly identify any of the above aircraft and airlines from your garden, window, or local airport fence is to use What Plane? on your iPhone.

The app reads live ADS-B signals, showing you the exact aircraft type (down to the variant — A320neo vs A320ceo), the airline, flight number, altitude, speed, and a compass bearing so you know which direction to look. The home screen widget means you don't even need to open the app — just glance at your phone.

Download What Plane? free on the App Store.

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